Kittelson, Rochholz named to Hall of Fame

February 17, 2013

Retired Velva wrestling coach Cy Kittelson and referee David Rochholz were two of the 2013 North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees introduced on Saturday.

Kittelson began his storied wrestling career at Velva in 1979 and recorded three Class B team championships while producing 27 individual state champions.

Article Photos

Chris Aarhus/Special to The Daily NewsCarrington senior Cordell Schroeder works from the top against Bishop Ryan's Mason Kramer during their 285-pound state championship match at the Class B state tournament Saturday at the Fargodome. Schroeder pinned Kramer with 10 seconds remaining in the third period to improve to 46-1 and finish undefeated against North Dakota opponents.

Velva also won 14 straight region titles during his regime.

"It's exciting," Kittelson said of the award. "It's a great honor. As a former wrestler and coach you always remember the matches you should have won. Now that I'm awarded this it reminds me of all the good times I had."

Rochholz, a longtime Minot resident, retired after the 2008-09 season. Up until that point, though, he'd officiated the most prominent wrestling tournaments in the prep, junior college and NAIA ranks.

He was named the North Dakota wrestling official of the year in 2000-01.

"I feel very honored to be recognized," Rochholz said. "I have to thank my family for being so patient when I was gone all those nights and weekends. This is a very humbling experience."

Haaland takes third for Williston

Williston 182-pounder Alex Haaland had the best weekend for the Coyotes, placing third.

The Braves were led by Brandon Rodriquez (182), who made it to the third-place match before being edged by Williston's Alex Haaland by a 7-6 decision.

Eugene Fleetwood (138) and Grant Laducer finished the tournament with fifth-place medals for Turtle Mountain, which finished 10th in the team standings.

Waylon Decoteau (220) finished sixth.

All four grapplers are underclassmen.

-Ryan Collingwood

Class B NOTEBOOK

Schroeder tops Kramer for title

While Bishop Ryan senior Mason Kramer was hoping to pull the ultimate upset, Cordell Schroeder had a second state title, a stout record and a first-time feat on his.

Schroeder scored a takedown in each period to lead 6-0 before pinning Kramer with 10 seconds remaining in the Class B heavyweight championship match. Schroeder, who also won at 220 last year, finished 46-1 including an unbeaten mark against North Dakota opponents. His only loss was a 5-2 setback to nationally ranked Michael Burckhardt of Coon Rapids, Minn.

More importantly, Schroeder became the first heavyweight champion in Carrington's tradition-rich program.

"It feels extremely awesome," Schroeder said. "My dad wrestled heavyweight back in the day and he was never able to quite make it to state. It's an unbelievable feeling."

It was bittersweet for Schroeder, who will head to the North Dakota State College of Science for football in the fall.

"I thought I was ready to be done, but I was telling my family and a couple teammates that it's kind of sad knowing I'll never wrestle in the (Fargodome) ever again," he said.

Schroeder proved to be too much for Kramer, a first-year wrestler who made it all the way to the finals while learning the sport on the go. Kramer finished 20-3.

Carrington had another state champion in freshman Walker Carr, who upended Justin Thomas of Des Lacs-Burlington by 10-4 decision in the 132-pound final. Carr had previously lost to Thomas on a reversal in the final seconds earlier this season.

"I really tried to get my stance down," Carr said. "Get my hands down and get ready for some head blocks and good sprawls. I was definitely ready for that."

South Border took the team competition with 195 points thanks to 12 state-placers and one state champion in Blake Bosch, who won his third title and got his state-record 240th win. He was named Class B senior athlete of the year for his efforts.

Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock co-coaches Dan Imdieke and Bruce Hase won their respective state award as voted on by their peers.